Recreation Participation and the Validity of Photo-based Preference Judgments

Abstract

Campers interviewed onsite consistently preferred the forest around the campground they were visiting to the same forest area represented by color photos. This preference for directly observed over photographically represented scenes was found in ratings and rankings of forest scenic beauty, and in judgments of willingness-to-pay to camp in forested areas. Several possible explanations for these findings are discussed. Prior choice and active participation by respondents in camping activities may have played an important role in preference judgments.

KEYWORDS:

• Recreation
• validity
• scenic beauty
• contingent valuation
• photographic representation